ANN ARBOR -- For Michael Schofield and his family, everything about this weekend has come at the right time.

After finding out his aunt, Jane Caliendo -- who was a fixture at his Michigan games throughout his career -- was hospitalized and diagnosed with colon cancer just before the Senior Bowl in January, Schofield and his family were dealt another blow shortly thereafter when another aunt -- Mary Beradelli -- was also given a cancer diagnosis.

Schofield did his best to focus on his training for the upcoming NFL draft, through the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine, but his aunts -- and the rest of his tight-knit, large family -- were never far from his mind.

He trained for his family. Used their struggle as motivation in the weight room, in team workouts, in every drill.

And after months of bad news, Schofield will gather with more than 70 of his closest family members this weekend in Orland Park, Ill. and smile together.

With both Caliendo and Beradelli right by his side.

"They're both doing good, they're strong, they have their good days and bad days, but this weekend is going to be huge for my family," Schofield said this week. "We've had so many negative things happen over the past couple months, and we're just ready for some good news.

"Either way, it's going to be a big celebration. It'll be a distraction from everything else, and it'll be a lot of fun. (Both my aunts) will be here, and they'll probably be cheering the loudest."

Schofield says he and his parents are expecting the full family gathering to begin at some point on Friday, as the former Michigan right tackle has a shot at being taken either in the second or third round of the draft.

If that doesn't happen, though, he says his family isn't going anywhere. They're going to stick it out through the rest of Saturday's final four rounds, enjoying each other's company and waiting to see "Michael Schofield -- OT, Michigan" come across their television screen.

"It's going to be awesome, with all the bad things we've had going on, with the cancer and everything, we really needed something positive to happen," Schofied says. "This is the perfect time for the draft. So we can just get the tables turned and get some positive stuff going again."

As far as football goes, Schofield has spent the past five months climbing out of the shadow cast by former teammate Taylor Lewan -- who was taken No. 11 by the Tennessee Titans during Thursday's first round.

Most scouts were aware of how talented Lewan was, but didn't know too much about Schofield's ability, he says.

And when the 6-foot-7, 304-pounder appeared at the Senior Bowl earlier this winter, he says it felt good to finally hear the surprise from several scouts who were just now focusing on him for the first time.

"Everyone knows about Taylor Lewan, he was a star, they should've known him, he was the best player (we had)," Schofield said. "I was never in the spotlight in college, and I really liked it that way, to be honest. But not many people knew much about me.

"But once I went to the Senior Bowl and then the combine, a lot of scouts started to figure out who I really am. Some scouts said they started watching Michigan film to watch Taylor, and then figured out 'hey, this guy on the right is just as good.' "

Schofield, like most mid-round prospects, will have to play the waiting game this weekend. He's hoping to hear his name called on Friday, but understands he might have to wait for Saturday to find his final destination.

Either way, most experts believe the three-year Michigan starter has a future in the NFL -- and a productive one at that.

"Schofield was a little underrated," ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. says. "He was solid pretty much all year at tackle, he could be a third- or fourth-round pick.

"(He) can be a starting right tackle in this league."

Schofield says he isn't picky when it comes to a destination. Any team that wants him is fine by him.

He'll continue to work to prove himself as an individual, and -- as always -- he'll continue to do it all with his family's support.

Through good times and bad.

"I don't know what's going to go through my head (when I get drafted), I probably won't be able to hear whatever I'm thinking because there's going to be 70 people screaming so loud," he said with a chuckle. "I'm so close with my family, so I know I'll be thinking about them a lot."